Browsing: Marc Staal

Here are my first-round series matchups, and below my series-by-series predictions. As always, I’d love to see your picks today. Maybe, if we can get a volunteer from our regulars to do the accounting, I can award a prize or two or three to the best selectors. No promises. Rangers-Penguins…

The last thing – absolutely last thing – the Rangers need right now, as they head into Game 1 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series in Pittsburgh Wednesday, is for Henrik Lundqvist to not be 100 percent. The Rangers already know that they will be without their captain and…

Rangers 3, Red Wings 2. Click here to read my game story from lohud.com. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Click here for Alain Vigneault’s post-game press conference video. Thoughts: 1) Through an entire regular season now, 82 games worth, we know very…

Islanders 4, Rangers 1. Click here to read my game story from lohud.com. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) In a results-oriented business, I continue to be surprised at how the Rangers brush off the results and insist they played well.…

There might be a Dan Girardi update today after the morning skate, but not expecting anything at all on Ryan McDonagh, maybe not until the middle of next week or later. Doubt he’s going to be ready for the start of playoffs. Also this morning the Rangers will name their…

Rangers 4, Blue Jackets 2. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) They’re in. That’s the best thing you can say about the Rangers right now. We have no idea who they’re going to play, or when. More importantly, we have no…

Hurricanes 4, Rangers 3. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) Not sure which is worse … the first period played entirely without a pulse, without perspiration. Or another blown-lead third period. Or more just blown defensive-zone play. Of another far-less-than 60-minute…

[polldaddy poll=9368786 align=”left”] Game 77. Rangers at Hurricanes. The big story of course is the return of former Carolina captain and Stanley Cup champion Eric Staal, who was dealt to the Rangers Feb. 28 and is coming off his best game for his new team. Per the Canes: “Drafted…

Just a reminder: We’re going to do a “playoff stretch drive” Live Chat today at noon. Be there. … and of course it’s a game day with the Rangers having a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a regulation or overtime win in Raleigh. Not to mention former captain…

Planning on going to Rangers practice today (they’ve been off ice for two days), then probably going to do a Live Chat Thursday at noon-ish leading into the Carolina game that night. Also, ICYMI, the Rangers signed Steven Fogarty yesterday. The announcement is below. And finally, for those who’ve asked,…

[polldaddy poll=9364291 align=”left”] Game 76. Penguins at Rangers. It’s a potential first-round playoff preview at MSG. The second-place Rangers lead the Penguins by four points — Pittsburgh has a game in hand; the Rangers have the tiebreaker 40-38 (regulation/OT wins). The Rangers have eliminated the Penguins in each of…

Rangers 5, Canadiens 2. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) I was wrong. I thought this was going to be one of those banana-peel games we’ve seen this season from this team, one where it played down to the opponent’s level,…

Rangers 5, Bruins 2. Click here to read my game story from lohud.com. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Click here for Alain Vigneault’s post-game press conference video. Thoughts: 1) All cured? No. Much better? Absolutely. The Rangers still have to tighten it…

Rangers 4, Panthers 2. Click here to read my game story from lohud.com. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Click here for Alain Vigneault’s post-game press conference video. Thoughts: 1) See? I’ve been telling you how much the East stinks. It’s a pile…

Sharks 4, Rangers 1. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) This would have been a terrible performance at any time of the season. But at this point, with now 10 games remaining, for this team, with all its experience and all…

Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR: NEW YORK RANGERS at SAN JOSE SHARKS Saturday, Mar. 19, 2016, 4:00 p.m. ET SAP Center at San Jose – San Jose, CA Rangers: 40-23-8 (88 pts) Sharks: 39-25-6 (84 pts) TODAY’S GAME The Rangers play their 72nd game of the 2015-16 season and conclude…

Kings 4, Rangers 3 (OT). Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) Bad as it was, raise your hand if you would have signed for three points on this trip? You’re lying if your hand is down. 2) Yeah, I know, I…

Rangers 2, Ducks 1. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Thoughts: 1) OK, I’m not going to be fooled by this win, as enormous as it was. Not going to be fooled by the tremendous will and effort, not going to be fooled…

Penguins 5, Rangers 3. Click here to read my game story from lohud.com. Click here for the boxscore with links to the official game summary, etc. Click here for Alain Vigneault’s post-game press conference video. Thoughts: 1) Forgive me if I’ve said this before, but this time I’m saying it…